What to know

  • Crustnut is hidden inside a breakable cluster in the Sands of Karak.
  • The area requires advanced movement abilities for safe exploration.
  • Picking up a map from Shakra in Sands of Karak helps mark key points and shortcuts.
  • Crustnut is essential for completing the “Great Taste of Pharloom” quest.

When searching for the Crustnut in Hollow Knight: Silksong, you’ll be testing your skills in exploration and platforming. This rare ingredient is necessary for advancing quests and earning valuable upgrades, but reaching it means traversing some of the game's most challenging desert terrain.

Crustnut location on map

Step-by-step guide to get the Crustnut

Step 1: Start the quest

Begin by speaking to Loyal Mergwin in the Choral Chambers to activate the “Great Taste of Pharloom” quest. Crustnut won’t appear unless this quest is active.

Step 2: Reach the Sands of Karak

Access the Sands of Karak from Blasted Steps. Fast travel to the westernmost bench in Blasted Steps for a quick route, then climb upward using grapple chains and the Clawline ability. Enter the Sands of Karak and continue climbing upward.

Step 3: Buy the map

Find Shakra in the area’s first tunnel. If you haven’t done so, purchase the Sands of Karak area map for easier navigation and marking important spots.

Step 4: Travel to the lower west

From Shakra’s tunnel, ascend and head into the second tunnel on the left. Move toward the far end, exploring underground instead of surface platforms—these tend to hide quest items.

Step 5: Locate and break the corpora cluster and find "Crustnut"

Look for a unique, breakable object called a corpora cluster at the tunnel’s end or in a sunken alcove. Break it open to find and secure the Crustnut.

Step 6: Return to quest NPC

With Crustnut collected, travel back to Loyal Mergwin in the Choral Chambers. You’ll be able to turn in the Crustnut for quest progression and valuable rewards.

Tips for safe traversal

  • Equip the Clawline for scaling vertical shafts and the Faydown Cloak for double-jumps through narrow corridors.
  • Breaking red spiky growths may unlock shortcuts or safer paths.
  • Pause the game map to plot routes and avoid dangerous blind jumps.
  • Use benches or save points to minimize the risk of repeating tough segments.
  • Take time clearing traps—rushing increases the chance of making mistakes.

Crustnut’s purpose

The Crustnut is a tough, furred seed found in corpora clusters. While it’s not appealing as food, it serves as a seasoning ingredient needed for food quests and as a trade item for dialogue and upgrades.

Should you go for Crustnut or not?

If you enjoy thorough exploration, platforming, and completionist rewards, the Crustnut challenge is worth pursuing. Its quest not only brings new upgrades but also unlocks storylines and hidden dialogue, adding depth and replay value to your journey.